CORD WINDING APPARATUSES AND METHODS

Abstract

Cord winding apparatuses and methods for making and using same. In some examples, the cord winding apparatuses can include a spool support rod configured to extend through an orifice of a spool. The spool support rod can include external threads and can be configured for driving into ground covering. The cord winding apparatus can also include a first flange plate fixed to the spool support rod, and a second flange plate having internal threads that are configured to engage the external threads of the spool support rod. The second flange plate can be used for securing the spool to the spool support rod and for connection to a driver for rotational movement for winding cords.

Description

BACKGROUND

Field

Embodiments described generally relate to cord winding apparatuses and methods for making and using same.

Description of the Related Art

Ski patrollers and ski resorts staff use large amounts of rope every day. Ski patrollers and staff use rope to delimit the entire exterior boundary of the ski resort, to mark early season closures, to mark the path of ski races, and for various other tasks that are required to mark boundaries or paths. Oftentimes, the rope that is laid out across the resort ends up needing to be “pulled” or re-wound on spools every day before closing time to allow snowcats, machinery used in ski resorts, to groom the ski paths. In addition, ski patrollers and ski resorts staff have to flag the rope paths at a certain distance (usually every ten feet of rope), which results in a time-consuming task. The rope is unrolled inside a room to have neon flagging manually placed in the rope and then the rope is re-wound to be used out in the field. On top of that, ski patrollers and ski resort staff often have to work under harsh conditions, such as cold temperatures and strong winds, which forces them to wear gloves, goggles, and snow clothing. This can make it even harder to re-wind the rope when it needs to be pulled. The rope used by the ski patrollers and staff usually comes on large wooden spools which are used repeatedly to deploy and store the rope.

There is a need, therefore, for a device which can be used with these common spools and which allows ski patrollers and ski resort staff to quickly, easily, and frequently rewind rope back onto the spools.

SUMMARY

Spool winding apparatuses and method for making and using same are provided. In some examples, the spool support rod can include a spool support rod having a first end and a second end. The spool support rod can have an elongated cylindrical body that can extend between the first end and the second end and can include a rod center axis. The spool support rod can be configured to extend through a spool orifice of a spool, and the spool support rod can include external threads along at least a portion of the body adjacent to the first end of the spool support rod. The first end of the spool support rod can be configured for driving into a ground covering and the second end can be configured for engaging a driver for rotating the spool support rod about the rod center axis. A first flange plate can be fixed to the rod body at a position spaced from the second rod end. The first flange plate can be configured to engage a spool flange of the spool to resist movement of the spool toward the second rod end when the spool support rod extends through the spool orifice. A second flange plate can have a second flange plate bore with internal threads that are complementary to the external threads of the spool support rod such that the internal threads and external threads are configured to engage one another to attach the second flange plate to the spool support rod, and to disengage from one another to detach the second flange plate from the spool support rod. The second flange plate can be configured to engage another spool flange of the spool to resist movement of the spool toward the first rod end when the spool support rod extends through the spool orifice and the second flange plate is attached to the spool support rod.

In some examples, a method can include inserting a first end of a spool support rod of a cord winding apparatus through a center orifice of a spool until a first flange of the spool contacts a first flange plate of the cord winding apparatus and the first end of the spool support rod extends out of the spool on an opposite end of the spool from the first flange plate. A second flange plate of the cord winding apparatus can be screwed onto threads on the first end of the spool support rod until the second flange plate contacts a second flange of the spool. The first end of the spool support rod can be driven into a ground covering at a fixed position. A driver can be attached to a second end of the spool support rod. The cord can be wound onto the spool using rotational movement from the driver while the cord winding apparatus holds the spool at the fixed position.

In some examples, a cord winding apparatus can include a threaded spool support rod having a first end that is configured for driving into a ground covering and a second end that is configured for attaching to a driver. The cord winding apparatus can include an annular shaped first flange plate that can be concentrically connected to the spool support rod at a distance from the second end that allows the driver to be attached to the second end of the spool support rod. A second flange plate of the cord winding apparatus can be configured to be selectively connected to the spool support rod to hold a spool between the first flange plate and the second flange plate when a spool is installed on the spool support rod, and to be selectively disconnected from the spool support rod to remove the spool from the spool support rod. The second flange plate can include an annular shaped portion that can be concentrically connected to a threaded portion that is sized to thread onto the spool support rod, and at least one handle that can be configured for turning the second flange plate relative to the spool support rod to selectively apply and release a compressive force to the spool when the spool is installed on the spool support rod.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 depicts a cord winding apparatus, according to one or more embodiments.

FIG. 2 depicts an enlarged perspective view of the second end of the spool support rod shown in FIG. 1, according to one or more embodiments.

FIG. 3 depicts an enlarged view of the first end of the spool support rod shown in FIG. 1, according to one or more embodiments.

FIG. 4 depicts a perspective view of the cord winding apparatus free from the spool and driver shown in FIG. 1, according to one or more embodiments.

FIG. 5 depicts a perspective view of the second flange plate of the cord winding apparatus shown in FIG. 1, according to one or more embodiments.

FIG. 6 depicts a method for using the cord winding apparatus shown in FIG. 1, according to one or more embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Certain examples are shown in the above-identified figures and described in detail below. In describing these examples, like or identical reference numbers are used to identify common or similar elements. The figures are not necessarily to scale and certain features and certain views of the figures may be shown exaggerated in scale or in schematic for clarity and/or conciseness.

FIG. 1 depicts a cord winding apparatus 10, according to one or more embodiments. The cord winding apparatus 10 is configured for selectively connecting to and disconnecting from spools, such as a spool 12, and for manipulating the spools to wind cords, such as cord 14, onto the spools. The cord winding apparatus 10 can include a spool support rod 16, a first flange plate 18, and a second flange plate 20. The spool support rod 16 can include a first end 22 and a second end 24, and can have an elongated cylindrical body 26 with a rod center axis 28 (depicted by dashed line) extending between the first end 22 and the second end 24. The spool support rod 16 can include external threads 30 which can extend along at least a portion of the body 26, including the portion of the body adjacent to the first end 22 of the spool support rod 16.

The first end 22 of the spool support rod 16 can be inserted through a spool orifice 34 (depicted by dashed lines) such that a first flange 36 of the spool 12 contacts the first flange plate 18 and the spool support rod 16 extends out of the spool 12 through a second spool flange 38 on an opposite end of the spool 12 from the first flange 36. The spool orifice 34 can extend through a spool drum 37 which can be sandwiched between the spool flanges 36 and 38 and can be held in place with spool bolts 39. The spool support rod 16 can extend out of the spool 12 past the second flange plate 20 for a length 40. The second flange plate 20 can be screwed onto the threads 30 of the spool support rod 16 until the second flange plate 20 contacts the second flange 38 of the spool 12. Screwing the second flange plate 20 onto the spool support rod 16 can cause the second flange plate 20 to apply a compressive force against the second flange 38 of the spool 12 and can secure the spool 12 to the cord winding apparatus 10.

The second flange plate 20 can be unscrewed from the spool support rod 16 and the spool 12 can be removed by sliding off of the spool support rod 16. Another spool (not shown) can be installed onto the cord winding apparatus 10, and this other spool can be the same size as spool 12 or can be smaller or larger than spool 12. In one or more examples, the other spool can be shorter than spool 12 such that when connected to the cord winding apparatus 10, the rod end length 40 is larger than shown in FIG. 1. In one or more examples, the other spool can be longer than spool 12 such that when connected to the cord winding apparatus 10, the rod end length 40 is shorter than shown in FIG. 1.

A driver 44 can be connected to the second end 24 of the spool support rod 16 for rotating the cord winding apparatus 10 and the connected spool 12 about the rod center axis 28. The driver 44 can be actuated to provide rotational force, such as by pulling the driver's trigger. The rotational force from the driver 44 can be used to wind the cord 14 around the spool 12.

The first end 22 of the spool support rod 16 can be inserted through the spool orifice 34 until the first flange 36 of the spool 12 contacts the first flange plate 18 and the first end 22 of the spool support rod 16 extends out of the spool 12 on an opposite end of the spool 12 from the first flange plate 18. The first end 22 of the spool support rod 16 can extend the length 40 from the orifice 34 past the second spool flange 38 and the second flange plate 20. The second flange plate 20 can be screwed onto the threads 30 on the first end 22 of the spool support rod 16 until the second flange plate 20 contacts the second spool flange 38. The second flange plate 20 can be screwed onto the spool support rod 16 without using tools. The first end 22 of the spool support rod 16 can be driven into ground covering 42 to fix a position of the spool 12 relative to the ground covering 42. When the cord winding apparatus 10 fixes the position of the spool relative to the ground covering, the spool 12 and the spool support rod 16 may rotate relative to the ground covering, and may move a small amount relative to the ground covering as the cord is wound onto the spool and while the user continues to operate the driver.

Driving the first end 22 of the spool support rod 16 into the ground covering 42 allows the cord winding apparatus 10 to support the spool 12 and cord 14, (including during re-winding), through the first end 22 of the spool support rod 16. This can eliminate the need for a user to hold the weight of the spool 12 and cord 14 while the cord 14 is re-wound. Ground covering 42 can include snow, dirt, rocky dirt, frozen dirt, sand, ice and/or a combination of these, or other of these types of surfaces.

The driver 44 can be connected to the second end 24 of the spool support rod 16 and the driver 44 can provide rotational movement to the spool support rod 16 to wind the cord 14 onto the spool 12. In one example, the first end 22 of the spool support rod 16 can remain in the ground cover 42 to hold the spool 12 in position relative to the ground covering 12 while the driver 44 rotates the spool 12 to wind cord 14 around the spool 12. In one example, the first end 22 of the spool support rod 16 can remain in the ground cover 42 to support the weight of the spool 12 and wound cord 14 while the driver 44 rotates the spool 12 to wind cord 14 around the spool 12. In one example, the spool support rod 16 can be removed from the ground covering 42 before the driver 44 rotates the spool 12 to wind the cord 14 onto the spool 12.

The second flange plate 20 can be removed from the spool support rod 16 by unscrewing the second flange plate 20 from the threads 30. The spool 12 can then be removed from the spool support rod 16 and a different spool can be installed onto the spool support rod. The different spool may be free from cord and the cord winding apparatus 10 can then be used for winding a cord onto the spool.

FIG. 2 depicts an enlarged perspective view of the second end 24 of the spool support rod 16 shown in FIG. 1. The second end 24 of the spool support rod 16 can be configured for attaching to the driver 44. The second end 24 can be configured for engaging the driver 44 such that the driver 44 can rotate the spool support rod 16 about the rod center axis 28. The driver 44 can be corded or cordless and can have a collet or chuck 45. The chuck can be keyed or keyless, and the collet can be configured for driving a hex-shank or other configured shank. The second rod end 24 can include a configuration for engaging a chuck and/or collet. The second rod end 24 can include flat sides 46 which can be engaged by a chuck of a driver to reduce or eliminate rotational slippage between the driver and the spool support rod 16. In one or more examples, the second rod end 24 can have a plurality of flat sides 46. In one or more examples, the second rod end 24 can have one, two, three, four, five, six, seven or eight flat sides 46. In one or more examples, there can be three flat sides 46 that can be ground onto the second rod end 24. In one or more examples, the flat sides 46 can be radially spaced from one another about the spool support rod 16. In one or more examples, the second rod end 24 can include eight flat sides 46 and can be configured to engage an impact driver and can have opposite flat sides that are approximately 0.25 inches apart across the rod center axis 28.

FIG. 3 depicts an enlarged view of the first end 22 of the spool support rod 16 shown in FIG. 1. In one or more examples, the first end 22 of the spool support rod 16 can be configured for driving into the ground covering 42. In one or more examples, the first end 22 of the spool support rod 16 can be configured for easy connection to the second flange plate 20. The first end 22 can include a rounded configuration which can ease the connection to the second flange plate 20 and which can be driven into ground covering 42. In some examples, the first end 22 can include a taper, a point, rounding and/or other shape which can ease connection to the second flange plate 20 and/or make it easier to drive the first end 22 into the ground covering 42.

FIG. 4 depicts a perspective view of the cord winding apparatus 10 free from the spool 12 and driver 44 shown in FIG. 1. The threads 30 of the spool support rod 16 can extend the entire length of the spool support rod 16 or can extend part of the length. In one or more examples, the threads 30 can extend from the first end 22 of the spool support rod 16 partially or entirely along the rod body 26 toward the second end 24. The threads 30 can be external to the spool support rod 16 and can extend helically around the circumference of the spool support rod 16. In one or more examples, the threads 30 can be single start threads. In one or more embodiments, the threads 30 can be double start threads and can include a first start 30a and a second start 30b, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. In one or more examples, one of the starts 30a or 30b can have a larger diameter than the other one of the starts 30a or 30b. In one or more examples, one or more of the thread starts can include a concave shape 48, FIG. 3, or other shape which can resist impact damage that can be caused from driving the spool support rod 16 into ground covering having rocks and/or ice. In one or more examples, the threads 30 can be round or knuckle threads. In one or more examples, the threads 30 can be coarse and/or wide so that snow, ice, mud, dirt, and/or other debris is less likely to get caught in the threads 30, so that the threads 30 can be easier to clean, and/or so that the threads are more resistant to damage. Also, by having coarse and wide threads, the second flange plate 20 can be screwed onto the spool support rod 16 quicker, easier, and without the use of tools than if the spool support rod 16 had narrow or fine threads.

The spool support rod 16 can be configured for extending through the spool orifice 34 of the spool 12 (FIG. 1). The spool support rod 16 can have an external diameter 50 (FIG. 3) that is smaller than an internal diameter of the spool orifice 34 so that the spool support rod 16 can be inserted through the spool orifice 34. The spool support rod 16 can have a length 52 that is sufficient to extend completely through the spool 12 and can extend out from both ends of the spool 12. In one or more examples, the second end 24 of the spool support rod 16 can extend from the first flange plate 18 a distance that is sufficient to allow the driver 44 to be attached. In one or more examples, the length 40 that the first end 22 of the spool support rod 16 extends from the second flange plate 20 can be sufficiently long to drive into the ground cover while cord is being wound onto the spool 12. In one or more examples, the length 40 can be approximately 2″ (two inches) or more long when a spool 12 is mounted or connected to the cord winding apparatus 10. In one or more examples, the length 40 can be approximately 2″ (two inches) for a spool 12 that is approximately 11″ (eleven inches) long. In one or more examples, the length 52 of the spool support rod 16 can be approximately 15″ (fifteen inches) long for a spool 12 that is approximately 11″ (eleven inches) long. The length 40 can be longer or shorter than 2″ (two inches) provided that the length 40 is sufficiently long to drive into the ground cover to fix the position of the spool 12 and/or support the weight of the spool while the cord is wound onto the spool with the driver. The length 52 can be longer or shorter than 15″ (fifteen inches) long and can depend on the size of the spool 12 and the length 40.

The first flange plate 18 of the cord winding apparatus 10 can be connected to the spool support rod 16. The first flange plate 18 can be connected to the rod 16 at a position that is spaced from the second rod end 24 and can be connected to a fixed position. In one or more examples, the first flange plate 18 can be spaced from the second rod end 24 by approximately one inch to approximately two inches. In one example, the first flange plate 18 can be spaced from the second rod end 24 by approximately one and one-half inches. The first flange plate 18 can be spaced from the second rod end 24 a sufficient distance to allow the driver to be securely attached to the second rod end 24. In one or more examples, the first flange plate 18 can be permanently connected to the spool support rod 16 by welding or brazing, or can be connected using an adhesive or other chemical attachment. In one or more examples, the first flange plate 18 can be formed integrally with the spool support rod 16, such as by machining from a single piece of metal or other material. The first flange plate 18 can be configured to engage the spool flange 36 to resist movement of the spool 12 toward the second rod end 24 when the spool 12 is mounted on the cord winding apparatus 10, FIG. 1. The first flange plate 18 can include a planar surface 54 (FIG. 4) which can contact the spool flange 36 and which can be perpendicular to the spool support rod center axis 28. The first flange plate 18 can be or can include an annular shape and can be concentrically connected to the spool support rod. The first flange plate 18 can be configured to fit in between the ends of the spool bolts 39 or can be configured to engage the spool bolts 39 to resist rotational movement of the first flange plate 18 relative to the spool 12.

FIG. 5 depicts a perspective view of the second flange plate 20 of the cord winding apparatus 10. The second flange plate 20 can be selectively connected or engaged to the spool support rod 16 to mount the spool 12 to the cord winding apparatus 10; and can be selectively disconnected or disengaged from the spool support rod 16 to allow the removal of the spool 12 from the cord winding apparatus 10. When the spool 12 is mounted to the cord winding apparatus 10, the second flange plate 20 can engage the second spool flange 38 and the spool can be held between the first flange plate 18 and the second flange plate 20. The second flange plate 20 can engage the second spool flange 38 to resist movement of the spool 12 toward the first rod end 22.

The second flange plate 20 can include a center portion 66 that can define a second flange plate bore 58 that can have internal threads 60 which are complementary to the external threads 30 of the spool support rod 16. The internal threads 60 and the external threads 30 can engage and disengage from one another to selectively connect the second flange plate 20 to the spool support rod 16. The first rod end 22 can be shaped such that the second flange plate 20 can be easily threaded onto the spool support rod 16.

The second flange plate 20 can include an annular shaped portion 62 that can be generally planar and can be concentrically connected to the center portion 66. The second flange plate 20 can include one or more handles 64. The handles 64 can be mounted to the center portion 66 or to another portion of the second flange plate 20. In one or more examples, the handles 64 can extend radially outward relative to the center portion 66. The handles 64 can be sized to grasp by a user wearing ski gloves. In an example, the handles 64 can be approximately 1-½″ (one and a half inches) long. In one or more examples, the handles can be approximately 1″ (one inch) to approximately 2″ (two inches) long. The handles can be configured for turning the second flange plate relative to the spool support rod to selectively apply and release a compressive force to the spool. In one or more examples, the threads 30 and 60 can be selected along with the length of the handles 64 to achieve a necessary force required to hold the spool 12 on the cord winding apparatus 12.

In one or more examples, the center portion 66 can include a hexagonal shape. In one or more examples, the center portion 66 can be a nut and the annular shaped portion 62 can be a washer and the nut and washer can be connected to one another by welding or other type of connection, and the second flange plate bore 58 can be defined by the nut. In one or more examples, the center portion 66 can include a wing-nut. The cord winding apparatus 10 can be made from one or more materials, such as metals and/or plastics. In one example, the cord winding apparatus 10 is made from metal, such as steel or aluminum. In another example, the spools support rod 16 and the first flange plate 18 are made from metal and the second flange plate is at least partially made from plastic. In another example, the cord winding apparatus 10 is made from plastic.

FIG. 6 depicts a method 70 for using the cord winding apparatus 10. Method 70 begins at 72 and proceeds to 74 where the first end 22 of the spool support rod 16 is inserted through the center orifice 34 of the spool 12 until the first spool flange 36 contacts the first flange plate 18 of the cord winding apparatus 10 and the first end 22 of the spool support rod 16 extends out of the spool 12 on an opposite end of the spool 12 from the first flange plate 18. Method 70 then proceeds to 76 where the second flange plate 20 of the cord winding apparatus 10 is screwed onto the threads 30 on the first end 22 of the spool support rod 10 until the second flange plate 20 contacts the second flange 38 of the spool 12. The method 70 then proceeds to 78 where the driver 44 is attached to the second end 24 of the spool support rod 16. The method 70 then proceeds to 80 where the first end of the spool support rod 16 is driven into ground covering 42. The method 70 then proceeds to 82 where the driver 44 is actuated and asserts a rotational force to rotate the spool support rod 16 about the center axis 28 and the spool 12 to wind the cord 14 onto the spool 12 while the cord winding apparatus 10 holds the spool 12 at the fixed position and supports at least a portion of the weight of the spool 12 and cord 14. The method 70 then proceeds to 84 where the method ends.

The term “cord” as used herein can mean single and/or multi-stranded rope; single and/or multi-stranded wire, including barbed wire and electric fence wire; insulated and/or non-insulated wire; tubing; hose; ribbon; and/or other material(s) configurations that can be wound around a spool.

The cord winding apparatus 10 described herein can allow the rope utilized by ski patrol to be quickly and easily removed from the slopes after use. Winding the rope onto spools can increase the stability of the rope during transport compared to rope placed in bags as is sometimes done. Having a more stable load during skiing can decrease the chance of accidents by the ski patrol while carrying the rope. Winding the rope onto spools using the driver can be faster than stowing the rope by hand. Also, having the cord winding apparatus 10 partially or fully support the weight of the spool and rope wound on the spool can decrease the weight carried by the ski patrol while retrieving the rope from the slopes which can result in less fatigue and a safer work environment for the ski patrollers. Driving the end of the spool support rod into the ground cover can also maintain the spool in position to resist the force of pulling the rope or other cord onto the spool. Having wide or coarse threads can decrease the time required to screw the second flange end onto the spool support rod. Course or wide threads are also less susceptible to damage from rocks or other debris when the spool support rod is driven into the ground, snow, ice, or other ground covering.

Certain embodiments and features have been described using a set of numerical upper limits and a set of numerical lower limits. It should be appreciated that ranges including the combination of any two values, e.g., the combination of any lower value with any upper value, the combination of any two lower values, and/or the combination of any two upper values are contemplated unless otherwise indicated. Certain lower limits, upper limits and ranges appear in one or more claims below. All numerical values are “about” or “approximately” the indicated value, and take into account experimental error and variations that would be expected by a person having ordinary skill in the art.

Various terms have been defined above. To the extent a term used in a claim is not defined above, it should be given the broadest definition persons in the pertinent art have given that term as reflected in at least one printed publication or issued patent. Furthermore, all patents, test procedures, and other documents cited in this application are fully incorporated by reference to the extent such disclosure is not inconsistent with this application and for all jurisdictions in which such incorporation is permitted.

While the foregoing is directed to embodiments of the present invention, other and further embodiments of the invention may be devised without departing from the basic scope thereof, and the scope thereof is determined by the claims that follow.

Claims

1. A cord winding apparatus comprising: a spool support rod having a first end and a second end, and having an elongated cylindrical body extending between the first end and the second end and having a rod center axis, the spool support rod configured to extend through a spool orifice of a spool, and the spool support rod including external threads along at least a portion of the body adjacent to the first end of the spool support rod, and wherein the first end of the spool support rod is configured for driving into a ground covering and the second end is configured for engaging a driver for rotating the spool support rod about the rod center axis;a first flange plate fixed to the rod body at a position spaced from the second rod end, the first flange plate configured to engage a spool flange of the spool to resist movement of the spool toward the second rod end when the spool support rod extends through the spool orifice; anda second flange plate having a second flange plate bore with internal threads that are complementary to the external threads of the spool support rod such that the internal threads and external threads are configured to engage one another to attach the second flange plate to the spool support rod, and to disengage from one another to detach the second flange plate from the spool support rod, and wherein the second flange plate is configured to engage another spool flange of the spool to resist movement of the spool toward the first rod end when the spool support rod extends through the spool orifice and the second flange plate is attached to the spool support rod.

2. The cord winding apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the first flange plate at least partially defines a plane that is perpendicular to the rod center axis.

3. The cord winding apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein the first flange plate includes an annular shape.

4. The cord winding apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the first flange plate is welded to the spool support rod.

5. The cord winding apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the second flange plate includes at least one handle that extends radially outward relative to the second flange plate bore.

6. The cord winding apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the second end of the spool support rod includes three radially spaced surfaces that are configured for engagement by the driver.

7. The cord winding apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the spool support rod is at least 15″ long.

8. The cord winding apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the threads are double start threads.

9. The cord winding apparatus as defined in claim 8, wherein the external threads of the spool support rod are concave threads and the threads start have different diameters.

10. The cord winding apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the second flange plate includes a nut and the second flange plate bore is defined by the nut.

11. A method comprising: inserting a first end of a spool support rod of a cord winding apparatus through a center orifice of a spool until a first flange of the spool contacts a first flange plate of the cord winding apparatus and the first end of the spool support rod extends out of the spool on an opposite end of the spool from the first flange plate;screwing a second flange plate of the cord winding apparatus onto threads on the first end of the spool support rod until the second flange plate contacts a second flange of the spool;driving the first end of the spool support rod into a ground covering at a fixed position;attaching a driver to a second end of the spool support rod; andwinding the cord onto the spool using rotational movement from the driver while the cord winding apparatus holds the spool at the fixed position.

12. The method as defined in claim 11, further comprising: removing second flange plate from the spool support rod;removing the spool from the spool support rod;inserting the first end of the spool support rod through a center orifice of a second different spool until a first flange of the second spool contacts the first flange plate and the first end of the spool support rod extends out of the second spool on an opposite end of the second spool from the first flange plate;screwing the second flange plate onto the threads of the spool support rod until the second flange plate contacts a second flange of the second spool; andwinding a second, different cord onto the second spool using rotational movement from the driver.

13. The method as defined in claim 11, wherein screwing the second flange plate onto the threads includes grasping a handle of the second flange plate.

14. A cord winding apparatus, comprising: a threaded spool support rod having a first end that is configured for driving into a ground covering and a second end that is configured for attaching to a driver;an annular shaped first flange plate concentrically connected to the spool support rod at a distance from the second end that allows the driver to be attached to the second end of the spool support rod;a second flange plate configured to be selectively connected to the spool support rod to hold a spool between the first flange plate and the second flange plate when a spool is installed on the spool support rod, and to be selectively disconnected from the spool support rod to remove the spool from the spool support rod, the second flange plate having an annular shaped portion concentrically connected to a threaded portion that is sized to thread onto the spool support rod, and at least one handle configured for turning the second flange plate relative to the spool support rod to selectively apply and release a compressive force to the spool when the spool is installed on the spool support rod.

15. The cord winding apparatus as defined in claim 14, wherein the first flange plate is welded to the spool support rod.

16. The cord winding apparatus as defined in claim 14, wherein the spool support rod threads are configured to resist impact damage.

17. The cord winding apparatus as defined in claim 16, wherein the spool support rod threads are double start and include a concave shape.

18. The cord winding apparatus as defined in claim 16, wherein the spool support rod threads are knuckle threads.

19. The cord winding apparatus as defined in claim 14, wherein the second flange plate threaded portion is a wing-nut.

20. The cord winding apparatus as defined in claim 14, wherein the spool support rod is configured to extend from the spool at least two inches when the spool is installed on the spool support rod.